That Judah's loyal children
Were arming for the strife;
And mingled awe and fear and pride
Were there, and haughty brow-
Cast off their king's allegiance,
They'd cast off Heaven's now.

But hark! outspoke the Monarch,
And all that crowd was still-
He pointed to the golden calf

That crown'd that peopled hill: "These are thy gods, O Israel! Ye tribes, bow down before

Their shrine, who brought your fathers forth
From Egypt's land of yore!”

He ended: through the assembled host,
As each form bended low,

There went a rushing sound, as when
The winds through forests go.

Forgot was then the temple--
Forgot its praise and prayer-
Forgotten was the Holy One.

Who made his dwelling there.
They bow'd them down as fervently
As if from Sinai's hill,

The mighty thunders never
Had spoke Jehovah's will.

What agitates that concourse now?

Whence comes that threatening cry

"Down with the Man of Judah!

The tyrant slave shall die!"

'Tis he! the Prophet of the Lord, Who comes from Judah's land, To bear his Master's message

To that apostate band.

Nor threats nor cries of vengeance
His dauntless steps may stay-
And, opening for that mantled form,
The angry crowd made way.

"Oh, Altar! Altar!" thus he cried,
And stood beside the shrine ;
"A child, by name Josiah,
Shall come of David's line,

By him upon thee, Altar,

Thy priests shall offer'd be,
And bones, bones of idolaters,
Shall be consumed on thee.
So speaks the Lord Jehovah,
The only God of heaven;
And, as a sign from him, this day
That altar shall be riven."

"Hold !” cried the angry Monarch,— "False prophet, com'st thou here

To sow dissension in the host,

To spread distrust and fear?
Think'st thou the holy mantle
Impunity will bring,

Or hide the crafty minion
Of Judah's tyrant king?
Remember'st not Adoram's fate

That thou art thus so bold?"

He pointed with outstretched arm,"Lay hold on, him!-lay hold!"

Full many there rush'd forward
To execute his word;

But midway they paused fearfully,
And gazed upon their Lord.
For terror on his visage

Had fix'd a ghastly grin;
The arm he had outstretched
He may not now draw in.
Awe-struck he stood, scarce breathing,
As if e'en life had flown-

As if offended Heaven

Had turned him to stone.

Down dash'd from heaven the lightning, While mutter'd deep the thunder; The offerings are scattered,

The altar rent asunder!

Each shudder'd, and look'd sideways up, As if he fear'd to read

Upon the angry heavens

A sign of woe and dread.

And conscience spoke in whispers

That would not silenced be,"Thou shalt not make thee idols, Nor bow to aught but ME."

Then humbled was the Monarch,
His lip with fear was wan;
He turned him imploringly
Unto that holy man :

"I've deeply sinn'd, O Prophet;

Yet ask of God, I pray,
That from me, in his mercy,

His curse may pass away."
All meekly calm the Prophet,
No rancour cherish'd he;
He pray'd unto the Lord his God
The King might healed be.
On Jeroboam, while he pray'd,
Ere yet his words were o'er,
The Lord had mercy, and his arm
Was nervous as before.

The impious rites are over;
The wonders of the day

Had chill'd both king and people
With terror and dismay.

And, one by one, the lessening crowd

In silentness withdrew.

The Monarch turn'd him to the man

That did his curse undo,

"O Prophet, holy Prophet,

I

pray thee, come with me,

And eat and drink, and let me give

Some recompense to thee.""Didst thou on me," the Prophet said, "E'en half thy house bestow,

I would not eat or drink with thee,
Nor to thy dwelling go.

For when I went from Judah's land,
This was the Lord's behest,-

'Thou shalt not eat or drink there,

Nor tarry thee to rest.

And when thou dost return from thence,
Thou 'lt take another way

From that by which thou wentest forth :'-
'Twas thus the Lord did say."

So spake he, and departed;
And, as God did command,
He turn'd him by another way
To go to Judah's land.

END OF PART I.

THE TEMPTATION OF FREDERICK,
PRINCE OF BELINO.

CHAPTER IX.

"My familiars watched for my halting."

"THE ball is begun," said Belo; "Frederick will soon be there. But what can I hope from that? A ball, or any other worldly gewgaw, cannot affect a mind like his, so long accustomed to take delight in higher things. Yet I'll not despair he is but a mortal, and mortals all are weak and liable to sin."